"It sums up much about Northern Ireland that the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday agreement will be marked in such a strange fashion," writes the English daily. The Irish peace deal was commemorated by the republicans on Good Friday this year, which fell on March 21st, while the Unionist community doesn't celebrate the original 1998 agreement, and prefers to celebrate the St Andrew's agreement signed in 2006. "It also sums up much about Northern Ireland today that the two sides can hold such contrasting views and yet maintain a political dialogue and partnership. This is because both claims about the past are valid. The fundamental principles of consent, power-sharing and an end to violence are the essence of the Good Friday agreement and remain the core of the astonishing if fragile settlement." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » History, » United Kingdom, » Ireland

"For the first time, a generation is growing up that doesn't have to live under the shadow of terror in Northern Ireland," Peter Nonnenmacher writes. "Today, Northern Ireland presents itself as a community whose foundations are linked by an increasingly strong bond. There are still a couple of concerns. For example, how serious are Paisley and his supporters about their recent demand that the IRA dissolve itself completely? When will Northern Ireland finally be given control over its police force? And above all, the signs that Ireland's economic miracle and the "golden years" are drawing to an end are a source of concern in the UK. ... Perhaps the process will slow down, and setbacks are always a possibility. But no one here mourns the passing of a society that lived in hopeless self-destruction. Northern Ireland has moved on. The agreement has given its inhabitants a future. The peace can no longer be disrupted." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Peter Nonnenmacher

Martin Alioth is optimistic about Northern Ireland's peace process. According to him, in 1998 anything more that an ideological and denominational proportional representation would not have been possible. "Yet it's undisputable that the situation remains fundamentally disappointing. There's hardly any bloodshed and the neuralgic parades of the Orange order have lost their intensity, but the walls that divide Catholics from Protestants at the behest of the residents have grown stronger over the past ten years instead of shrinking. Encounters between members of the two religious communities across the denominational divide have become fewer rather than more frequent. The hope of a gradual process of self-healing within this society remain unfulfilled, and there's no sign of concrete aid because the peace was imposed from above rather than coming from the base." (10/04/2008)

» to the homepage (external link, Neue Zürcher Zeitung)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Martin Alioth

The Irish daily devotes its lead editorial to commemorating the peace accord, writing that the 1998 document was a turning point in the long process of reconciliation. "The Belfast Agreement was a watershed in Ireland's political development. It embeds an ethos of mutual recognition, respect and toleration in inter-community and inter-state relations. It entrenches compulsory powersharing between competing parties and different national and community traditions. And it enables a specified yet dynamic process of North-South and East-West co-operation between the two states. These elements have been recognised around the world as a major contribution to the resolution of conflicts in deeply divided societies. Ireland has thereby benefited in numerous ways as a potential model for others." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » History, » United Kingdom, » Ireland

In an interview conducted by Miguel Mora, Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani says that his country is in a deep crisis. "Italy is lost! For 50 years architecture hasn't evolved, mediocre intelligence has become the norm, 'mamas' continue to neuter their men, professors make less than construction workers, no one respects school, and it has become necessary to defend teachers against idiotic parents. It's not possible to remake this country, because the decadence isn't economic; it's moral and it's retransmitted at all hours via television. We have been defeated by vulgarity. We'll die elegant, dressed in the latest style, vulgar, empty and rendered idiotic." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Italy
All available articles from » Oliviero Toscani, » Miguel Mora

Commenting on the response to Dutch politician Geert Wilders' anti-Muslim film 'Fitna', columnist Timothy Garton Ash deplores both threats and condemnations. "That Wilders should not be murdered for making a film may seem so obvious that it hardly needs saying. But it does need saying, again and again… . For one of the most deeply corrosive realities of our time is that not just one but many people across the world are living under death threats... . Too many Dutch and international leaders have leapt to deplore Wilders' film without first excoriating those who threaten him with death. Particularly egregious is a statement by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, which, in explicitly condemning the film (but not the death threats), actually says 'the right of free expression is not at stake here'. That's a truly idiotic claim. Mr Ban has no right to make it on our behalf." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Migration, » Integration, » Minorities, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Timothy Garton Ash

In Poland, the left-wing bloc won only around ten percent of the votes in the last two elections and is the smallest opposition faction. Sławomir Sierakowski , editor in chief of the left-wing magazine "Krytyka Polityczna", explains why in a commentary: "The views of the left are not extremist. They are in harmony with European standards for human rights. The left's marginalisation is the result of false terminology which equates peripheral positions with extremism. ... We know from surveys that the left has great potential. ... It's just that people can only support certain slogans when they have reason to believe that these slogans will be coherently and consistently represented and that there is a genuine desire for their realisation, as well as adequate competence to back them up." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Poland
All available articles from » Slawomir Sierakowski

Editorialist Paul Lieben suggests creating a Muslim party in the Netherlands. "If you ask me, creating a Muslim party is not only something inevitable, but it's also a good thing. Not because I'm hoping for new ideas, but because there are hundreds of thousands of Muslims living in the Netherlands today. Some of them believe that it is important to have political representation for their beliefs. ... If we have to hold on to the separation of church and state, there shouldn't be religious political parties. In an ideal world (a secular one, in my opinion), I would be okay with this principle. But in actuality, this doesn't exist. The Dutch tradition advocates emancipating believers and integrating them, including via political parties. Thus, at a local level at The Hague, there is already such a party, Islam Democraten (ID), which even has a few seats." (07/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Religion, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Paul Lieben

With four days to go before the legislative elections, Ezio Mauro, the daily's director, refutes the idea that a grand coalition between the right, led by Silvio Berlusconi, and the left, led by Walter Veltroni, would be a good thing for Italy. He writes that the first obstacle would be Berlusconi's attitude, as he openly criticised the President, Giorgio Napolitano, on April 9th. "There are arguments against those who believe that the Italian left and right are one and the same; that the PD (Democratic Party, left-wing) and the PDL (People of Freedom Party, right-wing) have the same platform and the same rhetoric; and that 'Veltrusconism' is the best solution to Italy's problems. ... The country needs clarity, lucid choices and precise responsibilities. As in all normal democracies, with a right and a left. Anyone who insists on confusing them accepts the idea that Italy has a Berlusconian future." (10/04/2008)

» to the homepage (external link, La Repubblica)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Italy
All available articles from » Ezio Mauro

The murder of crime-novel writer and former Mafia member Georgi Stoev has drawn attention to the shady dealings between the Bulgarian interior ministry and the Mafia. According to Adelheid Wölfl, the Bulgarian judiciary never showed any interest in Stoev's repeated offers to give evidence in court as a witness for the prosecution. "Interior Minister Rumen Petkov, who met in public with two members of the Mafia, is at the centre of the affair. However the socialist Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev doesn't have the courage to fire Petkov. He has given Petkov ten days to purge his ministry, but the powerful minister has the upper hand because without his support, the party could split up. The European Commission has now finally said harsh words about the Mafia's involvement in Sofia. It fears not only that EU funding could be finding its way into murky waters, but also that Bulgarian politicians involved in security matters could leak sensitive information to the Mafia. It will be best for Bulgaria if the pressure from Brussels continues and forces Petkov's resignation." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Adelheid Wölfl

Ram Etwareea fears that "the strike that has been paralysing the Romanian Dacia factories (a subsidiary of Renault) since March 24th will go on until results occur. ... The salary demands are not unique to Dacia, and even less to Romania. The movement is going on in 10 eastern and central European countries that have recently joined the EU. Under the banner EU8+2 [Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania], they have become an Eldorado for multinational corporations, attracted by a cheap and abundant workforce. ... The era of cheap labour, however, is coming to an end. ... These countries began showing signs of a skilled labour shortage, which caused wages to rise. Workers often change employers, sometimes even for a handful of euros." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Labour market / Services, » Eastern Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Ram Etwareea

The closure of the Nokia plant in Bochum, Germany, and the transfer of production to Romania have damaged the company's reputation, the Finnish paper concludes. The severance packages for the employees who lose their jobs will cost the firm a lot of money: "No doubt an amicable agreement is better for Nokia's image than a dispute. Germany is a large market and is able to make its voice heard very loudly and clearly. ... Nokia is now having to learn the hard way that you can't behave like this towards people in these times of globalisation. The decision to close the plant was without doubt very carefully thought-out, but the way it was implemented certainly won't go down as a positive example in economics textbooks." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Finnish)
More from the press review on the subject » Social movements, » Corporations, » Germany, » Finland, » Romania

The most spectacular thing about Oslo's new opera house is how unspectacular it is, writes Hanno Rauterberg: "At first those who travel to the official opening ceremony this weekend will only see a couple of crooked constructions clumsily clinging to the rest of the ensemble. Opera houses used to be made for eternity, imposing and classical in their design, but this one looks like it should never have been built. ... The architects of the renowned Norwegian firm Snøhetta have reacted to all the scepticism with a double strategy: their building looks so smooth and cool, as if any criticism would simply slide off it like water off a duck's back. ... But when you approach the building, cross a bridge and head for the entrance all of a sudden you feel as if a mountain - a lofty realm all in white and made of marble - towered before you ... Many claim the opera house resembles a walk-in iceberg and are delighted with this wonderful, eloquent symbol." (10/04/2008)

» to the homepage (external link, Die Zeit)
More from the press review on the subject » Architecture / Cities, » Music, » Stage, » Norway
All available articles from » Hanno Rauterberg

The historical library in Paris is hosting an exhibit of colour photos taken during the Nazi occupation. Gerard Lefort is surprised by the effect colour has on a period typically photographed in black and white. "We scrutinise even more the faces, the clothes, the gestures and the attitudes. All these civilians who could have been our grandparents become intimate. And Paris, how we can see yesterday today, right down to the details. ... But we have to ask why the Nazis would have prevented such optimistic images, which reinforce the propaganda of Paris as normal under occupation. In a library that considers itself 'historical', an extra pedagogical effort wouldn't have been excessive in this more than sensitive matter. ... The exhibit isn't any less worthy of being seen: it renders tangible, even physical, the stupor of being occupied and instils, before as now, a desire to resist." (08/04/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Exhibitions / Museums, » History, » Germany, » France
All available articles from » Gérard Lefort

In 2005 Romania was struck by heavy floods which lasted for months. Razvan Mihai Vintilescu complains that the country is completely unprepared for new floods: "Now the National Water Authority has sent maps dating back to the 1970s to the mayors of communities that are vulnerable to flooding. The director of the water authority recommended that the mayors turn to the old people living in their communities for advice because the maps don't contain information about changes in the course of rivers caused by the floods. So the idea is that before they grab the sandbags to secure river embankments, people should get as much information as possible out of the old folks. No satellite, no computers, no GPS, no Internet - only the old people know what's what. The situation is absurd. ... But in this case, even more ridiculous than the situation is the catastrophic state of the administration." (10/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Romania
All available articles from » Razvan Mihai Vintilescu